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But
Definitions
- 1 Merely, only, just, no more than literary, not-comparable, poetic
"Christmas comes but once a year, so we can but wait till then."
- 2 Though, however. Australia, Geordie, Scotland, conjunctive, not-comparable
"I'll have to go home early but."
- 1 and nothing more wordnet
- 1 However, although, nevertheless, on the other hand (introducing a clause contrary to prior belief or in contrast with the preceding clause or sentence).
"She is very old but still attractive."
- 2 On the contrary, rather (as a regular adversative conjunction, introducing a word or clause in contrast or contradiction with the preceding negative clause or sentence).
"I am not rich but [I am] poor. Not John but Peter went there."
- 3 Used at the beginning of a sentence to express opposition to a remark. colloquial
"But I never said you could do that!"
- 4 Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, (archaic) with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that".
"I cannot but feel offended."
- 5 Used to link an interjection to the following remark as an intensifier. colloquial
"Wow! But that's amazing!"
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant). archaic
"It never rains but it pours"
- 7 Except with; unless with; without. obsolete
"This man unable to manage his own happineſſe, grew ſo inſolent that he could not go, but either ſpurning his equals, or trampling on his inferiours."
- 8 Only; solely; merely. obsolete
"Observe but how their own principles combat one another."
- 9 Until. obsolete
"'Tshall not be long but I'll be here again."
- 10 That. obsolete
"It is not impossible but next year I may have the honour of waiting on your Lordship at St. Asaph, If I go to Ireland I certainly will go that way."
- 1 A surname.
- 1 An instance of using the word "but"; an objection or caveat.
"It has to be done—no ifs, ands, or buts."
- 2 The outer room of a small two-room cottage. Scotland
- 3 A limit; a boundary.
- 4 The end; especially the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end; the butt.
- 1 Apart from, except (for), excluding.
"Everyone but Father left early."
- 2 Outside of.
"Away but the hoose and tell me whae's there."
- 1 Use the word "but". archaic
"But me no buts."
Etymology
From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about.
From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about.
From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about.
From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about.
From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about.
See also for "but"
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